Reunion Records / Provident Label Group
Release Date: September 15th 2023
Reviewed by: Jonathan Andre
Third Day – Live From the Farewell Tour (Amazon mp3/iTunes)
Track Listing:
- CONSUMING FIRE
- MY HOPE IS YOU
- SKY FALLS DOWN
- I’VE ALWAYS LOVED YOU
- KING OF GLORY
- THIEF
- SHOW ME YOUR GLORY
- SING A SONG
- I GOTTA FEELING
- TUNNEL
- CRY OUT TO JESUS TALK
- CRY OUT TO JESUS
- REVELATION TALK
- REVELATION
- OTHERSIDE
- CHILDREN OF GOD
- I NEED A MIRACLE
- BLACKBIRD/GONE
- FAREWELL MEDLEY
- GOD OF WONDERS/AGNUS DEI
Once upon a time, in a land and a galaxy far, far away, in a time and place much removed from ours…there was a little ol’ band called Third Day. They started in 1992; and have since disbanded as of 2018. And during that time period, they amassed plenty of hit songs and albums- and while the generation of 2023 may not know who Third Day actually is, they were indeed pinnacle, paramount and prominent during the 1990s and the 2000s, shaping the way Christian music has been viewed during that time, and really testing the boundaries between CCM, worship and rock music throughout their 25+ year tenure. Mac Powell himself (lead singer of Third Day) has since stayed in the CCM industry, releasing his own solo album back in 2021, and has been on tours with plenty of people that Third Day the band toured with back in the day. While I felt at the time (and still feel at times) that Third Day retired too soon; that doesn’t negate the fact that this southern-rock band from Georgia have made a powerful and lasting impact on not only CCM, but on music holistically. And now nearly a full 5 years later, from whence they recorded their farewell show in Georgia in 2018, comes the album Live From the Farewell Tour. Initially released exclusively from their website in 2019 as a 2-disc 20 song album set, this album has now since been revealed as a 20-song digital release on Apple Music.
If you’ve been immersed in Christian music as much as I have been over the years, I’m sure you would’ve heard about Third Day at one point or another. The very distinct voice of Mac Powell has been a part of CCM throughout the 1990s and the 2000s; and has since continued to be a part of CCM through Mac’s very own solo career. To have this digital live album as a homage and a tribute to fans for their patronage and support over the years is a blessing in every sense of the word. Sure, the 20-song list doesn’t fully capture the whole discography of the band. There’re songs missing, from ‘Soul on Fire’, ‘Lift Up Your Face’, ‘Your Love is Like a River’, ‘Your Words’, ‘Offering’, ‘Victorious’, ‘Mountain of God’, ‘Eagles’, ‘You are Mine’, ‘I Believe’, ‘Call My Name’, even ‘Alien’, ‘Come Together’ and ‘Love Song’, to name a few. But having said that, what is indeed presented is nothing short of compelling, heartfelt, emotive, and enjoyable for the Third Day fan, me included. There’s the ever-reliable ‘Cry Out to Jesus’, ‘Revelation’, ‘King of Glory’, ‘Tunnel’ and ‘Consuming Fire’, while lesser-known tracks (to radio) like ‘Otherside’ and ‘I Gotta Feelin’ are also present on this album. All in all, this is a must for any Third Day megafan. If you want to purchase the 2-disc physical copy, by all means; you can. Or just stream this album as many times as you like, on Spotify/Apple Music. Whichever way you consume music, Third Day’s latest is a reminder, that even after 5 years, this band from Georgia is still as impactful and influential now as they were back when. Thanks, and kudos to Mac and co. for such a stellar and impactful music career. Maybe, just maybe, a Third Day tribute album in the future, a la like how Casting Crowns are undertaking it right now?
5 songs to listen to: King of Glory, Thief, Cry Out to Jesus, Revelation, My Hope is You
Score: 5/5
RIYL: Newsboys, MercyMe, Casting Crowns, Tenth Avenue North, for KING & COUNTRY